Match Commentary

FULL-TIME: Effectively over inside quarter of an hour, the rest of the game was played out with good spirit but little excitement.

91'

CHANCE! Goor breaks down the left, crosses in to the middle, but Ehret completely misses the ball six yards out and Chelsea clear. Great chance.

90'

Geremi almost gets on the end of a long ball over the top of the Anderlecht defence, but Tihinen blocks on the edge of the area.

89'

Anderlecht are finishing quite strongly, although they look as far from a goal as ever.

88'

Great defending by Terry as he follows Goor's run in to the area and blocks the midfielder's attempted shot.

87'

Anderlecht are still showing good spirit as they search for this elusive Champions League goal.

86'

Geremi almost sets up Cole with a cute chip over the head of his marker to the back post; the ball skips off the turf and away from the striker and goes out for a goal kick.

85'

SUB: Carlton Cole replaces Crespo; a chance for the young English striker to show Mourinho what he can do, as he battles with Crespo and Drogba for the single striker's spot.

85'

OOH! Geremi sends over a great cross to the back post, but Crespo volleys a couple of yards wide.

84'

POST! Lampard does well to shift the ball on to his left foot; he strikes a low shot from the edge of the area, but Proto, at full stretch, turns the ball on to the post.

83'

The game has slowed considerably now; it is drifting rather aimlessly as we approach the final whistle.

82'

Ehret teases a promising ball in to the area, but Carvalho shepherds it through to Cech.

81'

Anderlecht can be proud of their effort tonight, even though they will lose their twelth Champions League match in succession.

80'

The free-kick is lofted high in to the penalty area, but Cech comes a long way and claims with two hands.

80'

Terry is booked for obstructing Goor as the Belgian international attempted to turn the Chelsea captain.

79'

Wilhelmsen shows good determination to try and get on the end of what looked like a lost cause, and Carvalho is forced to put the ball out for a throw.

78'

Ehret does very well to cut in to the Chelsea penalty area from the left-hand side, but he loses control of the ball at the crucial moment and Carvalho allows it roll safely to Cech.

77'

SUB: Gudjohnsen is replaced by Geremi. The Cameroonian midfielder has had a few more chances to impress this season than last, and has already scored a couple of times. He'll be keen to remind Mourinho what he can do at this level.

77'

Del Horno is given the chance to break forward down the right, but he wastes the chance to swing in a dangerous cross.

76'

LAMPARD SHOT! Lampard's first shot of the match; a typical effort from 25 yards out, on target, as you might expect, but easily saved by Proto.

76'

As always, Chelsea deal with the corner with some ease as Terry heads clear from inside the six-yard box.

75'

Del Horno is forced to put the ball out for an Anderlecht corner after a good cross in to the far post.

74'

Chelsea seem to be preparing another substitute, perhaps a change just to up the tempo in the final quarter of an hour or so.

73'

SUB: Serhat off, Ehret on. The French midfielder replaces his Turkish counterpart as Anderlecht press for this landmark goal.

72'

News from Anfield is that it is still all-square; so if things remain as they are in this group, both English sides will qualify tonight.

71'

Duff is caught off-side by a good ball out to the left wing by Essien.

70'

Considering the game was effectively over after 15 minutes, both sides have shown commendable committment in this second half. That said, nothing remotely exciting is happening for me to tell you about.

69'

But the home side are putting up a spirited show in the second half; they have come out with nothing to lose, and are getting plenty of players forward in their attacks.

68'

And given that Chelsea haven't conceded a second-half goal since early August, Anderlecht's quest for their first Champions League goal in six games is looking nigh-on impossible.

67'

Chelsea have looked very solid at the back tonigh; Cech hasn't been threatened by anything other than low efforts from outside the penalty area.

66'

A nice move from Anderlecht as the press forward through Zetterberg and Wilhelmsen, although Goor's inside pass is finally intercepted by Terry.

66'

SHOT! Serhat strikes a low, first-time shot from the left-corner of the penalty area, but Cech sees it all the way and saves easily at the near post.

65'

If, as expected, Chelsea go on to win this game, and Real Betis fail to win at Anfield, then both English sides will qualify for the knock-out stages tonight.

64'

Diarra seems to be playing in quite an advanced midfield position, with Gudjohnsen moving out wide to play in the space that Cole has just vacated.

63'

SUB: Diarra replaces Cole. The young French midfielder comes to on to replace Cole, who I think has had a decent night. He looked disappointed to be brought off.

62'

Lampard finds Crespo with a cute ball down the left channel; the Argentine striker attempts to cross the ball, but it is put out at the back post for a corner.

61'

Wilhelmsen shows good pace and determination as he runs at the heart of the Chelsea defence; he makes it all the way in to the penalty area, before Essien robs him.

60'

Iachtchouk, Anderlecht's first substitute who began in midfield, will now operate up front on his own.

59'

SUB: Zetterberg on, Mpenza off. Tough night for the striker, and he is replaced by the veteran Swedish midfielder.

58'

Cole and Gallas almost combine down the right to set Lampard free in the area, but Tihenen gets a crucial block and the home side can clear.

58'

Del Horno heads out the corner at the near-post.

57'

Chelsea prepare to make a change; there is some activity in their dug-out.

56'

Wilhelmsen breaks down the left, but-megs Gallas and breaks in to the area, but Carvalho is quick to come across and put the ball out for a corner.

55'

Chelsea are still pressing for a third goal; they are having all of the ball and looking quite dangerous at the moment.

54'

The Chelsea substitutes are out on the touchlines, doing their warm-ups; it is a bitterly cold night here in Belgium - they could be excercising simply to keep away the frost-bite.

53'

Iachtchouk, the substitute, has a shot from 25 yards or so, though it is high and wide of Cech's crossbar.

53'

This must be something of a first: almost an hour gone, and I can't recall a single Lampard shot.

52'

This is much better from Chelsea; they are playing with much more purpose now. Players are getting forward in numbers and at pace as they try to explot the space at the back of the Anderlecht defence.

51'

SUPERB BREAK! Carvalho breaks at great pace down the left wing; he has Crespo and Cole waiting unmarked for a cross in the middle, but an Anderlecht defender gets back to intercept. Corner.

50'

Serhat is brought down by Cole, and earns a free-kick out on the left touchline. The ball is worked wide to Vanden Borre, but Essien intercepts in the area.

49'

There is still a good atmosphere inside this small stadium, which reflects well on the home fans. They must have feared the worst when Chelsea went two goals up.

48'

Chelsea do seem to have started at a higher tempo than they finished the first-half; perhaps Mourinho had a few words to say about their lack of urgency in the first half.

47'

CHANCE! Mpenza is put through the middle, but, one-on-one with Cech, the striker can only find the legs of the Chelsea keeper. The off-side flag renders the chance irrelevent.

46'

No changes from Chelsea at half-time, although I expect Chelsea to be a lot more positive in the second half.

45'

Wilhelmsen lofts a good ball in to the penalty area towards the substitute, but he is crowded out by three Chelsea defenders.

45'

Anderlecht kick off the second half.

45'

SUB: Vander Haeghe is replaced by Iachtchouk.

45'

HALF-TIME: The game was over after just 15 minutes when Chelsea scored their second. The only question now is "How many?"

44'

Mpenza requires some treatment after hitting the ground awkwardly following an aerial challenge with Del Horno.

43'

Vanden Borre has made some good bursts in to the Chelsea area in this first half, without any reward; again he breaks in behind Carvalho, but Serhat's ball is poor and Cech claims.

42'

SHOT! Goor's shot from outside the box takes a big deflection, but the ball simply rolls tamely in to the arms of Cech. Nothing is going the home side's way.

41'

I suspect Mourinho will be making a few changes in the second half; both to rest some of his players for the up-coming Premiership clash at the weekend, and also to give some of the fringe players a chance for some action.

40'

Crespo and Cole are showing good determination to keep pressing forward, although the rest of their team-mates seem somewhat reticent to do the same.

40'

Mpenza is livid after a breakdown in communication between Goor and Vander Haeghe gifts possession back to Chelsea.

39'

The Chelsea fans are in good voice, despite the cold and the lack of any genuine action on the field.

38'

It's not often that a game is wrapped-up inside the first quarter-of-an-hour, but this one certainly was.

37'

ALMOST! Cole, who is on a good run of goal-scoring, latches on to a loose ball in the penalty area after Duff's shot is blocked; Cole attempts to prod the ball over Proto, but the goalkeeper stretches high to save.

36'

A moment of confusion as Cole is fouled on the edge of the area, the referee allows Chelsea the advantage, but Crespo allows the ball to run out, expecting the free-kick to be given. It isn't, and Anderlecht get a goal-kick.

34'

Goor swings the set-piece in to the crowded penalty area, but Cech comes out to claim the ball comfortably.

34'

Anderlecht win a free-kick when Mpenza is pushed in the back by Del Horno, out on the right wing.

33'

VOLLEY! Gallas' cross from the right is half-headed away by Kompany; Crespo gets on the end of the loose ball but he can only volley a couple of yards over the bar from 12 yards out.

32'

Duff attempts to out-pace Zeblakow down the left, but the Anderlecht full-back shows good determination to stick with the flying winger and put the ball out for a throw.

31'

A breakdown in communication between Serhat and Mpenza hands possession back to Chelsea.

30'

Kompany intercepts Gallas' cross from the right after the full-back had exchanged passes with Lampard to break down the flank.

29'

Del Horno lofts a long ball forward to Crespo, but it is easily intercepted by Tihinen.

28'

SHOT! Vander Haeghe has Anderlecht's second shot of the evening, but it is blocked just inside the penalty area by Terry.

27'

The game is drifting without a lot of purpose at the moment; Chelsea need to remain positive, or else this could be a very drab match.

26'

Desacht gets to the by-line and lofts a cross in to the middle towards Mpenza, but Cech collects easily.

25'

Finally, after a spell of about 40 passes, Terry decides to try and push forward, but his ball to Duff is over-hit and runs back to Proto.

24'

Anderlecht are prepared to have the English champions the ball in defence and deep in midfield, and Chelsea don't seem to have the inclination to press forward.

24'

Chelsea are having a lot of the ball, but Mourinho might be a little upset that they aren't doing a lot with it at the moment.

23'

Crespo is penalised for handball as he attempts to charge down a free-kick, 40 yards out.

22'

Chelsea are knocking the ball about with real ease at the moment; they have dominated possession in the early stages.

21'

Crespo is brought down by a late challenge from behind by Kompany. It was a poor tackle from the big defender, and Crespo walks away a little gingerly.

20'

The free-kick from the left-edge of the penalty area is wasted, and the Chelsea goal goes unthreatened.

20'

Serhat goes on a long run at the heart of the Chelsea defence. He is tracked all the way by Essien, but the Anderlecht player wins his side a free-kick when he tempts his opponent in to a challenge.

19'

Vanden Borre does well to beat a man and progress towards the Chelsea box, but his attempted pass through to Mpenza is cut out by Terry.

18'

Duff wins his side's third corner when he collects Cole's pass along the edge of the area and his shot is deflected wide of Proto's far post.

16'

And Carvalho's goal a moment or two ago means that the visitors now hold a comfortable 2-0 lead, and have one foot in the knock-out stages of the competition.

15'

A quick re-cap: Chelsea started well but could have gone a goal down as Mpenza missed a good chance from six yards out. Just a few moments later, Crespo volleyed home Del Horno's cross to put Chelsea 1-0 up.

14'

GOAL! Perfect timing as Carvalho puts Chelsea two-nil to the good with a superb finish after the ball dropped at his feet following a corner.

14'

Hi readers: Sorry for the late start; technical issues have been dogging us here at Soccernet all evening.